Storage battery temperature regulator having thermoelectric transducer, and vehicle including the storage battery temperature regulator

ABSTRACT

A temperature regulator efficiently regulates a temperature of a storage battery. The regulator includes a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face. The first face is thermally coupled with one or plural storage batteries, and the second face is thermally coupled with a thermal action accelerating medium that accelerates thermal action on the second face. The first face and the second face do two jobs contradictory to each other, i.e., heat dissipation and heat absorption, responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. This structure allows the temperature regulator to cool down and warm up the storage battery.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a temperature regulator of a storagebattery and a vehicle including the same temperature regulator. Moreparticularly it relates to a temperature regulator of a storage batterysuitable for vehicles such as an electric car and a hybrid car, and alsorelates to a vehicle including the same temperature regulator.

BACKGROUND ART

Electric cars and hybrid cars have been commercialized, in which adrive-motor and a storage battery for driving the drive-motor aremounted to those cars. The hybrid car, in particular, fits modern lifeand draws market attention.

FIG. 8 shows a driving system of a hybrid car available in the market.An engine, a drive-generator and an air-conditioning compressor aremounted in the car. The engine drives both of the compressor anddrive-wheels. A control system includes a control unit (ECU), a DC/DCconverter and an inverter. A storage battery of 36V is mounted fordriving the drive-generator, and a storage battery of 12V is mounted fordriving the control system and a starter. Both of the storage batteriesare of the same size and mounted in a trunk (boot). The generatorgenerates electricity and charges both the batteries while the car runs,i.e., prepares for further use, namely, discharging. When the 36Vstorage battery drives the generator, a transmission of the engine isset at a neutral position.

Meanwhile, cars employed storage batteries of 6V at first, which werereplaced by 12V batteries, and now are going to be replaced by 42Vbatteries that guarantee 36V as discussed above. The battery drives notonly a generator but also an air-conditioning compressor, and furtheruse of storage batteries can be expected.

The storage battery, as discussed above, is charged while the engine isdriven, so that it can be used as long as possible. However,self-heating of the battery shortens its expected service-life. Theself-heating is generated by a chemical reaction in charging anddischarging. When a temperature rises, dilute sulfuric acid gas runsaway, which erodes the electrodes, so that the service life of thebattery is shortened. The battery sometimes discharges several kilowattsat 36V, namely, 200–250A. Thus, if a temperature of the battery rises bymore than 10° C. from an operating temperature ranging from 50 to 60°C., the service life is reduced by half.

In order to overcome such a problem, Japanese Patent ApplicationNon-Examined Publication No. H09-289701 discloses that a lithium-ionbattery employs a method of reducing discharging-power step by step intwo steps.

In the case of a lead-acid battery, charge/discharge is controlled sothat off-charge and off-discharge can be done in two steps within atemperature-range from 60 to 70° C. for overcoming the problem discussedabove. Charge/discharge is desirably thus controlled in an early stage;otherwise, a thermal runaway occurs and a temperature of the batteryrises instantaneously to as high as 80–90° C.

In the case of a nickel metal hydride battery, Japanese PatentApplication Non-Examined Publication No. H10-270095 discloses anair-cooling apparatus including a fan, for instance. Various methods ofproviding an air-cooling path are proposed in order to cool the batteryeffectively.

However, those discharge restricting methods discussed above force theusers to use the battery only for a short period due to the temperaturerise of the battery, and the battery needs a long time for recovery.Thus a hybrid car employing one of those methods cannot fully enjoy theadvantages of the hybrid. In other words, the car runs with gasolinerather than with the batteries. Thus it is desired to increase the ratioof battery-driving vs. gasoline-driving.

In the case of air-cooling used with the nickel metal hydride battery,the battery is still protectively controlled, and the cooling effectneeds improvement for increasing the ratio of battery-driving.

The lead-acid battery functions even at a temperature ranging from aslow as −5 to −30° C., although its performance lowers by 20–30%. On theother hand, the nickel metal hydride battery and the lithium-ion batterycannot work properly at a low temperature, thus they need to be warmedup. However, conventional temperature regulating techniques for warmingup cannot deal with severe low temperatures in cold areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A temperature regulator that regulates a temperature of a storagebattery includes a thermoelectric transducer such as a thermoelectricmodule or a thermoelectric chip that has the same characteristics as thethermoelectric transducer. The transducer does two jobs contradictory toeach other, i.e., dissipating and absorbing heat using its first andsecond faces responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. The firstface is thermally coupled with the storage battery, and the second faceis thermally coupled with a thermal-action accelerating medium whichaccelerates a thermal action on the second face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric transducer of atemperature regulator coupled to a storage battery in accordance withall the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a temperature regulator of a storagebattery in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the regulator, shown in FIG. 2,installed in a car.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of a car where the regulator inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention isinstalled.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a temperature regulator in accordance witha third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the regulator, shown in FIG. 5,installed in a car.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a temperature regulator of a storagebattery in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a driving system and a control systemof a hybrid car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are demonstrated withreference to the accompanying drawings. Elements similar to those in therespective embodiments have the same reference marks.

Exemplary Embodiment 1

A temperature regulator of a storage battery in accordance with thefirst embodiment includes thermoelectric transducer 3 that does two jobscontradictory to each other, i.e., dissipating and absorbing heat usingits first face 1 and second face 2. In this first embodiment,thermoelectric module 7 is used in thermoelectric transducer 3, andemploys a Peltier element. In the Peltier element, P-type semiconductorsand N-type semiconductors are thermally arranged in parallel, butelectrically connected in series. When a current runs through thePeltier element, heat-absorption and heat-dissipation occur on therespective faces due to the Peltier effect. This Peltier element isdisposed between heat-transferring and insulating plates 5, 6 made ofceramic, and then those elements are sealed and integrated byencapsulating material made of resin. Heat-transferring plates 5 and 6form first face 1 and second face 2 of thermoelectric module 7.

In order to regulate a temperature of a storage battery, first face 1 oftransducer 3 is thermally coupled to a single storage battery 8A or aplurality of storage batteries 8A, 8B, and second face 2 is thermallycoupled to thermal-action accelerating medium 4. In this embodiment,storage battery 8A of 36V for driving a driving system of hybrid car 11and storage battery 8B of 12V for driving a control system are used, andthe temperature regulator simultaneously regulates the temperatures ofboth the batteries. In FIG. 1, first face 1 and second face 2 dissipateand absorb heat respectively responsive to a polarity in excitingbattery 8B, so that batteries 8A, 8B and thermal-action acceleratingmedium 4 are warmed up or cooled down forcibly. Meanwhile, batteries 8A,8B are represented by battery 8 hereinafter for making the descriptionsimple.

This structure allows first face 1 to forcibly cool down battery 8 whena polarity is set for heat absorption, thereby regulating a temperatureof battery 8 not to exceed a predetermined temperature. Also thisstructure allows second face 2 to accelerate heat dissipation betweenmedium 4 and second face 2, thereby enhancing the cooling capacity offace 1 with respect to battery 8. As such, the temperature regulatorcools down battery 8 more efficiently and sufficiently than aconventional air cooling method. Thus a ratio of battery-driving vs.gasoline-driving increases, and the battery-driving can be used forlonger hours, and yet a service life of battery 8 is prolonged. This isparticularly advantageous to battery 8A that outputs a greater power.

On the other hand, first face 1 forcibly warms up battery 8 when apolarity is set for heat dissipation, thereby regulating a temperatureof battery 8 not to fall below a predetermined temperature. Also secondface 2 accelerates heat adsorption between medium 4 and second face 2,thereby enhancing the warming-up capacity of face 1 with respect tobattery 8. As such, the temperature regulator warms up battery 8 moreefficiently and sufficiently, so that the temperature regulator canprevent battery 8 from degrading performance in a low temperatureenvironment of a cold area, and prolong the battery-driving hours.

As discussed above, battery 8 and thermoelectric transducer 3 aresuitable for hybrid car 11 and an electric car. They can be alsoemployed with a similar advantage in various vehicles that are driven bya motor, and other mobile objects such as airplanes, submarines, andspaceships. The temperature regulator is applicable to storage batteriesmounted to objects other than cars and vehicles.

Next, a housing that accommodates a thermoelectric transducer and thestorage batteries related to the temperature regulator in accordancewith the first embodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. As shown in FIG.2, battery 8 is housed in housing 12, so that heat-flow between battery8 and surroundings is restricted. Heat-flow due to the temperatureregulation is realized in a predetermined path which runs through asection thermally coupled between thermoelectric transducer 3 and firstface 1. A temperature of battery 8 can thus be regulated as perinstruction without being affected by the surroundings. Unnecessaryheat-travel to/from the surroundings and troubles due to thisunnecessary heat-flow can be prevented. In this sense, housing 12 ispreferably made of heat insulating material such as a panel or a sheetin which foamed resin, glass-wool, or another heat insulating materialis filled, or a vacuum panel or a vacuum sheet. Housing 12 preferablyaccommodates the batteries in a replaceable manner, so that housing 12can be used repeatedly. Housing 12 preferably has a structure suitablefor battery 8 to be thermally coupled with first face 1 of transducer 3.

Based on the preferred structure discussed above, housing 12 compriseshard case 12A and lid 12B which opens or closes hard case 12A. Lid 12Bis hinged to a border of case 12A with hinge 12C so that lid 12B canrotate on hinge 12C for opening/closing hard case 12A. Handle 12D isprovided to lid 12B for opening/closing. Sealing member 13 is providedbetween case 12A and lid 12B, so that heat is prevented from travelingfrom case 12A to the outside and vice versa. In order to positively sealcase 12A, means for locking lid 12B is preferably prepared; however, amethod of opening/closing case 12A is not limited to the methoddiscussed above, and lid 12B can be detachable.

Next, the thermal coupling of the storage battery with thethermoelectric transducer of the temperature regulator in accordancewith the first embodiment is demonstrated. First face 1 of transducer 3is mounted on a bottom of case 12A with face 1 facing upward, so that anaccommodation of battery 8 into case 12A thermally couples battery 8with first face 1 of transducer 3. In this case, both the elementsdirectly couple with each other. However, as shown in FIG. 1, metalplate 14 made of good conductive material such as copper or aluminum isbrought into contact with the surface of battery 8, so that both theelements are thermally coupled via metal plate 14. Metal plate 14 isprovided along an inner wall of case 12A, and the accommodation ofbattery 8 brings a lower face of battery 8 into contact with metal plate14. Some clearance is provided around battery 8 for replacing battery 8with ease. This structure allows first face 1 to efficiently move theheat to a spacious face of battery 8 although face 1 is smaller than thesurface area of battery 8, so that efficiency of cooling down or warmingup increases. Metal plate 14 that surrounds battery 8 with someclearance accelerates heat-flow between first face 1 of transducer 3 andbattery 8. If the clearance is eliminated, the efficiency of coolingdown or warming up further increases. Therefore, enough free space isprovided between an upper portion of surrounding wall made of metalplate 14 and battery 8 for accommodating battery 8 with ease into case12A, and the lower portion of the surrounding wall closely faces to oreven contacts with battery 8. This structure allows both efficientheat-flow and practicality to be compatible with each other.

Case 12A can have an opening in any direction for accommodating battery8, and transducer 3 can be mounted on any place such as a side ofhousing 12. The opening can be provided to lid 12B.

First face 1 can be thermally coupled with battery 8 via fluidcirculating on the surface area of battery 8. In this case, thermalaction can be extended to not only the surroundings of battery 8 butalso details such as a heat-exchange path, so that heat-exchangeefficiency advantageously increases.

The thermal action accelerating medium of the temperature regulator inaccordance with the first embodiment is detailed hereinafter.

Thermal action accelerating medium 4 is made of fluid such as brine orwater. Since medium 4 is fluid, a path for thermal coupling betweenmedium 4 and second face 2 can be arbitrarily designed, and the thermalcoupling can be achieved with ease. As shown in FIG. 2, fluid medium 4circulates in circulating path 15, so that medium 4 can be recycled.Water, or brine in particular, is suitable for medium 4 because of aheat-flow efficiency. Temperature regulating section 16 is provided incirculating path 15, for instance, for regulating a temperature ofmedium 4, thereby further accelerating thermal action and enhancingtemperature regulating capacity of thermoelectric transducer 3.

A sub unit of the temperature regulator in accordance with the firstembodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 2, main unit 18includes transducer 3 and storage battery compartment 17 where battery 8is placed, and sub unit 19 includes temperature regulating section 16.Regulating section 16 exchanges heat with the open air using heatexchanger 16A and fan 16B. This structure saves a special thermal mediumfor this heat exchange, and the heat can be forcibly and efficientlyexchanged by fan 16B. Ambient air 22 can be taken in automatically dueto the car's running and discharged via heat exchanger 16A. However,when fan 16B is employed, the heat is exchanged within a car spaceclosed to the outside, so that dust or exhaust gas advantageously doesnot enter into the car from the outside.

In sub unit 19, control board 31 is provided for regulating atemperature of battery 8. This structure allows control board 31 tocontrol the power fed to transducer 3 and the driving of fan 16B, basedon temperature information from sensor 32 detecting a temperature ofbattery 8, so as to maintain the temperature of battery 8 within apredetermined range. For this control, main unit 18 is coupled with subunit 19 via wiring 33 including a power feeding circuit (not shown) forfeeding and transmitting or receiving signals. As shown in FIG. 1,switch 35 is provided in the feeding circuit for transducer 3 in orderto change over an exciting polarity, and control board 31 controls thechange-over.

A placement of the main unit and the sub unit in the temperatureregulator in accordance with the first embodiment is describedhereinafter. As shown in FIG. 3, main unit 18 is disposed in a cabin 11Aof car 11, and sub unit 19 is disposed in trunk (or boot) 11B. Main unit18 is preferably disposed under seat 21, where dead space is available,and sub unit 19 is preferably disposed at an inner-upper portion or aninner-lower portion of the trunk so as not to block baggage from beingloaded. Separation of main unit 18 from sub unit 19 allows both theunits to share dead spaces available in car 11. Another way to placeboth the units is to place main unit 18 out of the way, and to place subunit 19 at a place convenient for in-taking and discharging ambient air.Both of the units can be disposed in the cabin, with one unit beingplaced under front seat 21 and the other unit being placed under rearseat 21. Both of the units can be disposed in the trunk, and placed outof the way as well as at places convenient for in-taking and dischargingambient air.

A pump of the temperature regulator in accordance with the firstembodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,pump 23 forcibly circulates thermal-action accelerating medium 4 betweentemperature regulating section 16 and thermally-coupled section onsecond face 2. This structure allows transducer 3 and temperatureregulating section 16 to be placed at any location. In other words, boththe elements can be separated from each other as far as possible, orplaced in any positional relation. Pump 23, in particular, is placed atthe thermally-coupled section on second face 2, and blades 23A aredisposed in pump-room 24 where second face 2 is exposed as shown inFIG. 1. This structure forcibly moves medium 4 on second face 2, therebyaccelerating heat-flow, thus the thermal action on face 2 is furtheraccelerated, which further enhances the temperature regulating capacityon first face 1 with respect to battery 8.

Blades 23A are rotatably supported by shaft 25, made of e.g., stainlesssteel, of bearing 23C disposed at the center of intake port 23B behindpump-room 24. Magnet 23E is buried in blades 23A, and stator 26 disposedon an outer wall makes blade 23A spin. An opening of intake port 23B isplaced in intake room 27 added to case 12A. An opening of outlet port23D projected from a part of the outer wall of pump room 24 is placed inoutlet room 28. Intake room 27, outlet room 28, intake port 23B andoutlet port 23D are connected to heat exchanger 16A of temperatureregulating section 16 and circular path 15 having a going route and areturning route. This structure allows medium 4, of which temperaturehas been regulated by regulating section 16, to be supplied repeatedlyto the thermally coupled section on second face 2, thereby acceleratingthermal action of face 2.

Heat exchange in the sub unit of the temperature regulator in accordancewith the first embodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. When atemperature of medium 4 is regulated in heat exchanger 16A, the heat canbe exchanged with conditioned air or non-conditioned air. Theconditioned air in particular advantageously accelerates the thermalaction of second face 2 due to its conditioned characteristics. In thiscase, temperature regulating section 16 is preferably placed in cabin11A where the conditioned air is discharged. For instance, when ablowing path of the conditioned air is provided for temperatureregulating section 16, it is unnecessary to provide a long path.

The temperature regulator of the storage batteries prolongs a servicelife of the storage batteries mounted in various electric cars andhybrid cars. In the case of the hybrid car, the regulator increases aratio of battery-running vs. gasoline-running. If an air conditioneremploying a compressor driven by a motor is mounted in those cars, thenumber of motor-driven items increases, which is good for theenvironment. When a car stops at an intersection, the engine is turnedoff for environmental protection, so that the air conditioner is alsoturned off automatically. However, employing a motor-driven compressorcan avoid this inconvenience.

Exemplary Embodiment 2

In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, main unit 18 and subunit 19 similar to those in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1through FIG. 3 are placed in trunk 11B of car 11 at an inner right-endand an inner left-end respectively. These places hardly block baggagefrom being loaded. Since sub unit 19 is placed near to a side face ofthe car body, the intake port and discharge port are provided on theside face of car 11. Thus ambient air is taken into temperatureregulating section 16 and supplied to heat exchanger 16A for exchangingheat. This structure allows temperature regulating section 16 to usefresh ambient air and increase a regulating efficiency compared with acase where the air in trunk 11B is repeatedly used.

Exemplary Embodiment 3

In the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, storagebattery compartment 17, where storage batteries 8 are placed,thermoelectric transducer 3 and temperature regulating section 16 areintegrated into one unit, namely, temperature regulating unit 41. Thisstructure does not permit the distributed placement discussed in theprevious embodiments; however, it advantageously saves circular path 15and wiring 33 which connect between the units, because all elements areintegrated into one unit. In addition, parts of the same wall can beutilized for dual purposes, which lowers the cost. This structure isparticularly suitable for a car having a dead space that can accommodateunit 41. In FIG. 6, temperature regulating unit 41 is mounted in trunk11B; however, it can be mounted in cabin 11A.

Exemplary Embodiment 4

In the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, first face 1 ofthermoelectric transducer 3 is thermally coupled with storage battery 8via fluid thermal medium 42 flowing on the surfaces of these twoelements. Thermal medium 42 can be air, water, or brine similar tothermal action accelerating medium 4 demonstrated in the firstembodiment. Among them, brine is preferable in consideration of thermalefficiency. In the case of such a thermal-coupling using fluid, heat canbe transferred even at details on the surfaces of battery 8, so that anefficiency of heat-flow increases when battery 8 is cooled down orwarmed up. Thus thermal medium 42 such as air or water can be circulatedby fan 43 shown in FIG. 7 or a pump between case 12A and battery 8,thereby further increasing the heat-flow efficiency between first face 1and battery 8. In this case, thermal medium flowing path 44 ispreferably provided to battery 8 as shown in FIG. 7. Fin 1A ispreferably formed on first face 1 of thermoelectric transducer 3 becausefin 1A accelerates the heat flow to/from thermal medium 42. When battery8 includes a plurality of batteries, thermal medium flowing path 44 ispreferably disposed between the respective batteries.

In all the previous embodiments discussed above, a Peltier element isused as a thermoelectric transducer. However, other elements, having thecharacteristics discussed previously, such as a thermoelectric elementincluding a thermoelectronic chip can be used as the transducer. A useof one of those elements to regulate a temperature of one or pluralstorage batteries is within the scope of the present invention.

In all the previous embodiments discussed above, the temperatureregulator of a storage battery is mounted in an electric car or a hybridcar. The storage battery can be a lead-acid storage battery, a nickelcadmium battery, a nickel metal hybrid battery, or a lithium-ionbattery. The electric car and hybrid car comprise (a) a driving systemincluding a generator, an engine and a transmission and (b) a controlsystem including an inverter, a converter and an ECU for driving thedrive-wheels. Those cars also include a steering system for controllinga running direction. These systems are mounted and integrated in thecar. The present invention, however, is not limited to the previousembodiments, and the temperature regulator is applicable to astand-alone storage battery, e.g., a power supply for load leveling andother kinds of power supplies such as a fuel battery where heat involvesproblems.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In a temperature regulator of the present invention, a thermoelectrictransducer does two jobs contradictory to each other, i.e., its firstface dissipates heat and its second face absorbs heat, responsive to apolarity in exciting the battery. Thus the battery and a thermal actionaccelerating medium, with both the elements being thermally coupled, areforcibly warmed up or cooled down. When a polarity is set for the firstface to absorb heat, the first face forcibly cools down the batterythermally coupled with the first face so that a temperature of thebattery does not exceed a predetermined temperature. The second face isaccelerated to dissipate heat between the second face and the thermalaction accelerating medium that is thermally coupled with the secondface, thereby increasing a cooling capacity of the first face withrespect to the battery. This structure can cool down the battery moreefficiently and sufficiently than a conventional air cooling method. Theratio of battery-running vs. gasoline-running of a hybrid car thusincreases, and yet, a service life of the battery can be prolonged.

On the other hand, when the polarity is set for the first face todissipate heat, the temperature of the battery is regulated by forciblywarming up the battery so that the temperature will not fall lower thana predetermined temperature. The second face is accelerated to absorbheat between the second face and the thermal action accelerating medium,thereby increasing warming capacity of the first face with respect tothe battery. The battery is thus warmed up efficiently. Thus the thermalelectric transducer prevents the battery from degrading its performancein a low temperature environment and allows the battery to keep beingused.

The temperature regulator of the present invention is advantageouslyapplicable to an electric car and a hybrid car.

1. A temperature regulator for regulating temperature of a storagebattery, said temperature regulator comprising: a thermoelectrictransducer having a first face and a second face, said thermoelectrictransducer being arranged to selectively provide one of heat dissipationand heat absorption via said first and second faces, respectively, andheat dissipation and heat absorption via said second and first faces,respectively; a storage battery holding member arranged to hold thestorage battery at a storage battery location; and a thermal actionaccelerating fluid flow room containing a thermal action acceleratingfluid thermally coupled with said second face of said thermoelectrictransducer, said thermal action accelerating fluid including either ofbrine and water; wherein said first face of said thermoelectrictransducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding memberso as to be thermally coupled with the storage battery when the storagebattery is held in the storage battery location.
 2. The temperatureregulator of claim 1, wherein said temperature regulator is mounted in avehicle.
 3. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein said storagebattery holding member comprises a housing for covering the storagebattery.
 4. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein said housingis made of heat insulating material.
 5. The temperature regulator ofclaim 1, wherein said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative tosaid storage battery holding member so that the storage battery isdirectly contacted with said first face of said thermoelectrictransducer when said storage battery is held in the storage batterylocation by said storage battery holding member.
 6. The temperatureregulator of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric transducer is arrangedrelative to said storage battery holding member so that the storagebattery is thermally coupled with said first face of said thermoelectrictransducer via a heat conductive member arranged to be disposed on asurface of the storage battery when the storage battery is held in thestorage battery position by said storage battery holding member.
 7. Thetemperature regulator of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric transduceris arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so that thestorage battery is thermally coupled with said first face of saidthermoelectric transducer via fluid that circulates on a surface of thestorage battery when the storage battery is held in the storage batterylocation by said storage battery holding member.
 8. The temperatureregulator of claim 1, further comprising a temperature regulatingsection for regulating a temperature of said thermal action acceleratingfluid.
 9. The temperature regulator of claim 8, further comprising apump for pumping said thermal action accelerating fluid through saidthermal action accelerating fluid passage such that thermal actionaccelerating fluid circulates between said temperature regulatingsection and said second face of said thermoelectric transducer.
 10. Thetemperature regulator of claim 9, wherein said pump is disposed at athermally-coupled section on said second face of said thermoelectric,and said pump includes a blade disposed in said thermal actionaccelerating fluid flow room in which said second face is exposed. 11.The temperature regulator of claim 8, wherein said temperatureregulating section is operable to effect heat-exchange between saidthermal action accelerating fluid and ambient air.
 12. The temperatureregulator of claim 8, wherein said thermoelectric transducer and saidtemperature regulating section are integrated into a temperatureregulating unit.
 13. The temperature regulator of claim 12, wherein saidtemperature regulating unit is disposed in one of a cabin and a trunk ofa vehicle.
 14. The temperature regulator of claim 8, wherein saidthermoelectric transducer and said temperature regulating section areincluded in different units respectively.
 15. The temperature regulatorof claim 14, wherein a unit including said thermoelectric transducer andanother unit including said temperature regulating section are disposedin a cabin and a trunk of a vehicle respectively.
 16. The temperatureregulator of claim 14, wherein a unit including said thermoelectrictransducer and another unit including said temperature regulatingsection are disposed together in one of a cabin and a trunk of avehicle.
 17. The temperature regulator of claim 1, further comprisingthe storage battery, wherein said storage battery comprises one of alead-acid battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel zinc battery, anickel metal hydride battery, and a lithium-ion battery.
 18. Thetemperature regulator of claim 1, further comprising a switch operablycoupled to said thermoelectric transducer for switching saidthermoelectric transducer between providing heat dissipation and heatabsorption via said first and second faces, respectively, sand providingheat dissipation and heat absorption via said second and first faces,respectively, by changing over an excitation polarity of saidthermoelectric transducer.
 19. A vehicle comprising: a storage battery;a motor arranged to be driven by said storage battery; and a temperatureregulator comprising a thermoelectric transducer having a first face anda second face, said thermoelectric transducer being arranged toselectively provide one of heat dissipation and heat absorption via saidfirst and second faces, respectively, and heat dissipation and heatabsorption via said second and first faces, respectively; a storagebattery holding member arranged to hold the storage battery at a storagebattery location; and a thermal action accelerating fluid flow roomcontaining a thermal action accelerating fluid thermally coupled withsaid second face of said thermoelectric transducer, said thermal actionaccelerating fluid including either of brine and water; wherein saidfirst face of said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative tosaid storage battery holding member so as to be thermally coupled withthe storage battery when the storage battery is held in the storagebattery location.
 20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising anengine to be used with said motor.
 21. The vehicle of claim 19, furthercomprising an air conditioner employing a compressor to be driven bysaid motor.
 22. A temperature regulating arrangement comprising: athermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face, saidthermoelectric transducer being arranged to selectively provide one ofheat dissipation and heat absorption via said first and second faces,respectively, and heat dissipation and heat absorption via said secondand first faces, respectively; a storage battery holding member; astorage battery held by said storage battery holding member at a storagebattery location; a thermal action accelerating fluid flow roomcontaining a thermal action accelerating fluid thermally coupled withsaid second face of said thermoelectric transducer, said thermal actionaccelerating fluid including either of brine and water; wherein saidfirst face of said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative tosaid storage battery holding member so as to be thermally coupled withsaid storage battery held by said storage battery holding member. 23.The temperature regulating arrangement of claim 22, wherein said firstface of said thermoelectric transducer is directly contacted with saidstorage battery.
 24. The temperature regulating arrangement of claim 22,wherein said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is thermallycoupled with said storage battery via a heat conductive member disposedon a surface of said storage battery.
 25. The temperature regulatingarrangement of claim 24, wherein said first face of said thermoelectrictransducer is thermally coupled with said storage battery via fluidcirculating on a surface of said storage battery.